Having registered their second TNM Super League win on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium, Blue Eagles coach Derklerk Msakakuona believes defending the K20 million Standard Bank Top Eight Knockout Trophy is a possibility.
“The advantage with us is that, when we hit form, we are able to sustain it. I hope we have turned the corner as it is never easy beating Blantyre United at home. Having lost the previous day [to Bvumbwe Research], we had to work on the psychology of the players. I told the players to be patient. I noted that the more we rushed to score, the more it was becoming difficult,†he said.
Eagles beat giant killers, Blantyre United, 3-1 through Peter Mgangira, Elia Kabingu and Patrick Masanjala goals, much to Msakakuona’s delight.
“What made the win encouraging was that we managed to do it even in the absence of some of our regulars. We left Chikondi Mpulula because he was ill while John Banda is injured,†said Msakakuona.
Eagles will know the identity of their Standard Bank Trophy opponents this Friday when the draw takes place at Chiwembe Technical Centre. The cops are on bye alongside Silver Strikers, Escom United, Mighty Wanderers, Civo United, Moyale Barracks and Epac.
Meanwhile, voting for the other team to take part in the cup closed on Monday but the final results were not yet out as we went to press.
As of last Monday, Big Bullets led the race on 1 013 votes, followed by Azam Tigers on 636 votes. Red Lions were third on 248 votes, Blantyre United fourth at 189 votes while Bvumbwe were fifth on 78 votes.
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